The victim was found with multiple gunshot wounds on Soutel Drive, officials said.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A man was shot and killed Monday morning inside a laundromat in Northwest Jacksonville, police said, as detectives searched for a suspect believed to have approached the victim and opened fire at close range. The killing happened near Soutel Drive and New Kings Road, authorities said.
The shooting drew a large police response and left investigators with a familiar challenge: finding a suspect who disappears quickly in a busy commercial corridor. Officials said they were working to identify witnesses, gather video and confirm the victim’s identity before releasing his name. The case also came as Jacksonville-area agencies investigated other recent shootings, keeping pressure on detectives and patrol units.
Police said officers were dispatched to the 5500 block of Soutel Drive just after 8 a.m. after a report of gunfire inside a laundromat. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue crews responded and found the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said the suspect entered the business, closed distance, and attacked quickly. Police summarized their early findings in plain terms, saying the suspect “walked up to the victim and shot him” inside the laundromat before leaving the area.
At first, officers described the location as near the intersection of Soutel Drive and New Kings Road, where businesses sit close to the roadway and morning traffic builds early. Patrol units blocked access and stretched crime scene tape around the laundromat and nearby lots. Detectives moved through the area in small teams, speaking with people who said they heard shots or saw movement around the storefront. Investigators looked for security cameras that could show the suspect’s face, clothing, or direction of travel, but police did not say whether any usable images had been recovered by midday.
Authorities did not release a description of the gunman, and they did not say whether the suspect left on foot or used a vehicle. Police also did not say what led up to the shooting or whether the victim had been threatened earlier. The victim was described as being in his early 20s, but his name was not released. Police did not say whether he worked at the laundromat, was doing laundry, or had arrived with someone else. Investigators marked unknown details as they built a timeline from witness accounts, radio traffic and any available camera footage.
The scene itself suggested a short, intense encounter. Officers focused attention on the laundromat’s entrance and the area just outside it, treating the location as the central point of the homicide investigation. Nearby businesses and residents watched as detectives interviewed witnesses and limited access to parking spaces closest to the taped boundary. Some people lingered across the street, pointing toward the storefront while speaking with officers. Police did not say whether anyone else was hurt, and they did not report any damage beyond the immediate crime scene.
Jacksonville detectives often rely on a combination of witness statements and video in daytime shootings that happen in commercial areas. Police said they were trying to locate anyone who was inside the laundromat or near the entrance around the time shots were fired. Investigators also aimed to identify vehicles that passed through the intersection during the critical minutes after the shooting. Officials said the investigation would include reviewing footage from nearby businesses and checking for private cameras that might have captured the suspect leaving the area.
Police did not announce any arrests or name a suspect Monday, and no charges were filed by midday. Detectives said they planned to continue interviewing witnesses and collecting video as they worked to determine motive and identify the shooter. Officials did not give a date for a public briefing, but they said updates would be provided as new information is confirmed. Police also did not say when the victim’s identity would be released, which typically depends on notifying relatives.
Residents and workers near Soutel Drive described a tense start to the week as the investigation unfolded in view of passing traffic. The laundromat, a routine stop for neighbors handling daily chores, was surrounded by patrol vehicles and marked by a wide perimeter of tape. People who said they were nearby at the time of the shooting spoke quietly with investigators, sometimes gesturing toward the entrance as they described what they heard. Police remained in the area into the late morning as detectives continued their search for video and additional witnesses.
By Monday afternoon, the case remained open with no suspect in custody, and investigators said they were still working to build a clear timeline of the moments before and after the shooting. Police said they expect to release more details once detectives confirm witness accounts and review surveillance footage.
Author note: Last updated February 23, 2026.